Jun 10, 2021
AstraZeneca working with ASEAN nations on vaccine deliveries
AstraZeneca says it is working closely with South-east Asia governments to ensure its Covid-19 vaccine is supplied “as quickly as possible”, after reported delays in deliveries of orders from a Thai plant owned by the country’s powerful king.
Malaysia and Taiwan this week became the latest in the region to warn they expected delays in deliveries of AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Thailand. “Distribution to other South-east Asian countries, including Malaysia, will commence in the coming weeks,” the company said in an e-mail to Reuters.
“We are working closely with each of the relevant governments to supply our Covid-19 vaccine as quickly as possible,” the AstraZeneca statement said.
It did not respond further to questions on the Thai plant’s current and anticipated future production levels.
AstraZeneca’s distribution plans in South-east Asia depend on 200 million doses made by Siam Bioscience, a company owned by Thailand’s king that is making vaccines for the first time.
